1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of catching
Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Feb. 2026
With that much catching experience, he was bound to be a manager, and he’s been working with Rockies prospects in the low minors for 10 years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Eric Boodman, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026
There’s also hope for his defense because the Angels now have Max Stassi as the catching coach.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
Now starting his fourth season with the Braves, Murphy is expected to be one half the team’s strong catching duo alongside 2025 National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Feb. 2026
With that much catching experience, he was bound to be a manager, and he’s been working with Rockies prospects in the low minors for 10 years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Morales sat on the floor by the toilet pinning back Mundo’s hair, catching his throw-up in a bucket, wiping his tears.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026
There’s also hope for his defense because the Angels now have Max Stassi as the catching coach.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
Haugh’s humility is infectious and authentic.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Grammy Award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mark was fouled after grabbing the ensuing loose ball and made both free throws to ice the game, 77-71.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The video, filmed by Mortensen, appears to show Paul hitting, grabbing and throwing three barstools at him.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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He’s known as someone who could raise the tide of an entire defense based on his football IQ and his propensity for getting his teammates properly aligned.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Punishment for operating a poker club illegally Poker clubs have not been legalized by a constitutional amendment or statewide referendum but are generally allowed, according to Zack Fertitta, who helped represent Prime Social in getting its case dismissed.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After months of due process, in addition to appeals sought by Fort Worth ISD officials, the district was unsuccessful in stopping the state takeover from happening.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
-
That tells us the damage from stopping isn't fully reversible, and that has real implications for the millions of people cycling on and off these drugs.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Emily Gregory, a first-time candidate and small business owner, defeated Republican Jon Maples in Tuesday’s special election for Florida House District 87, securing about 51% of the vote to Maples’s 49%, according to election results.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick after securing a ticket from an authorized lottery retailer.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It can only be imparted by the example of a wise craftsman in the midst of practicing their craft—knowing exactly how much pressure to apply at what moment, knowing when to press forward and when to hold back.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Probst also notes the necessity of continually evolving game design, creating unexpected twists and advantages to keep players on edge and never knowing whom to trust.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell issued a joint consumer alert on Wednesday describing the scheme, which appears to be part of a nationwide scam tricking people into making payments.—
Aldo Toledo,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
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The peach-plum gradient gown is the creation of Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, whose high-fantasy sculptural gowns emphasize movement and eye-tricking form, often to gravity-defying effect.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the same blog post, Sweeney said the challenges Epic Games is encountering are visible across the entire video game industry, amid rising competition, weaker consumer spending, and slower console sales, among other issues.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Their appraisal underscored the challenges the Survivors’ Act was encountering in the courtroom.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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